Tip #1) Check the company with the Better Business Bureau. This simple step can save you time and expense.

There are some carpet cleaners who may have their own business website, with claims of their service. However, the Better Business Bureau takes it's comments and insights from customers, and it's a name you can trust.

Tip #2) Ask around. Ask friends, neighbors or relatives if they've had experience with any of the local carpet cleaning companies, or if they've heard of any encounters with any of the business. Word of mouth can be detrimental to both the business and yourself, so use it in determining whom you hire.

Tip #3) Ask for a free consultation. Allow them to clean a small section of a carpet in a heavily trafficked area of your home. Find a space, that you can do without walking on for a few hours, and then judge the product and the company for yourself.

And finally, Tip#4) Go with your instincts. While conversing with the business take in how they treat you, both in person and over the phone. Rudeness is a sign of someone who doesn't whole heartedly care about your feelings, and thus will not give your carpet the proper attention it deserves.

Some suggestions:

When it comes to proper carpet cleaning, a rule of thumb tends to be the quality of products used, as well.

When paying for this service, you want to make sure the best carpet cleaners are used. Generic brands can work as well as a name brand, so do your research on which brands reach deep stains.

Make sure that the person is clean as well, and they take the necessary precautions to ensure the rest of your home stays clean as well.

Another valuable suggestion is to agree on the terms of service before hand. An example of that would be to have your apppointment in the morning, ensure they are there on time, and that everything will be dried in a timely manner. Ask about their drying policy and their 'refund' terms.

If the company has an issue with returning any of your payment, then expect that they may not have a 100% satisfaction guarentee. Be wary if they don't allow for refunds, although this may or may not be routine, it would be best to have this in your contract.

A question to ask "does the company move furniture?" this is important as some companies have a 'carpet they see' only method, and if you are paying for the entire carpet to be cleaned, you want to ensure it will be.

In closing, before choosing anyone to come into your home and perform a service, such as carpet cleaning, always remember the saying "you get what you pay for".